As Latino leaders, members and representatives of the undersigned organizations committed to efforts that support our communities’ health, advancement, safety and well-being, and on behalf of the concerned communities we represent, we strongly urge you to oppose the president-elect’s nominee to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt.

Mr. Pruitt has made a career of suing the Environmental Protection Agency, and has used his office to attack lifesaving public health protections time and time again. His record exhibits a reckless disregard for public health and a deeply troubling contempt for the very mission of the agency he has been nominated to lead.

Mr. Pruitt denies the science of climate change, suing to block national standards to fight this crisis; he has fought against clean air protections, opposing the Mercury and Air Toxics standard which would prevent premature deaths and asthma attacks; he has sued the EPA to overturn clean water safeguards for more than half of the nation’s waterways, including streams that feed into the drinking water supplies of hundreds of millions of Americans. Scott Pruitt is simply unfit to lead the EPA and, if confirmed, would pose a danger to our communities.

Latinos overwhelmingly support actions to fight climate change. We recognize the importance of protecting the environment: 97 percent of Latinos agree we have a moral obligation to take care of our environment. In December, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 40 of the leading Latino organizations nationwide, voiced their opposition to Mr. Pruitt’s nomination, stating that they were “particularly troubled by this choice,” and pointing to the prevalence of asthma and other respiratory diseases among Latinos living near polluting power plants, truck routes, and factories; as well as the large number Latinos who are employed in outdoor occupations, including agriculture, where they are exposed to health hazards, bad air quality, and the impacts of extreme weather.

Americans did not vote for more air pollution, toxics, or dirty water, nor did they vote to undo critical protections that safeguard our children and communities. We did not vote for more climate change or dirty energy. Putting the EPA in Mr. Pruitt’s hands does just that: he will threaten our children’s health, turn back the clock on landmark efforts to clean up our air, water and climate, and imperil the United States’ position as a global clean energy leader.

We call on you to publicly declare your commitment to stand up for our right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and be protected from pollution. We urge you to vote against all legislative proposals that would in any way repeal, weaken or undermine these rights, laws and safeguards. Our community is counting on you to protect us by voting to reject Scott Pruitt’s nomination for Administrator of the U.S. EPA.

Sincerely,

Mildred Real Founder and CEO America Verde

Irene VilarFounder and CEOAmericas for Conservation + the Arts

Arturo CarmonaArturo for Congress Campaign

Ronald Blackburn Moreno President and CEO ASPIRA Association

Marce Graudiņš Founder / Director Azul

Vanessa Smith PublisherChica Magazine

Lisa Hoyos Director Climate Parents

Omar GomezDirector of Programs and Public Policy Council of Mexican Federations (COFEM)